Province hires 12 new sheriffs

Twelve new B.C. sheriffs have been hired by the Attorney General Ministry to work at courthouses in Prince George, Smithers, Victoria and Nelson. According to the ministry, the 12 new hires recently graduated from the Justice Institute of B.C.'s 11-week sheriff training program. Attorney general Niki Sharma said the court-based sheriffs will provide protection for the judiciary, Crown, defence, public and court staff. “They also transport accused and convicted people to and from provincial and federal correctional institutions to court, and carry out court orders,” Sharma said. There are 550 sheriffs working across the province in 89 courts.